‘Blind angel’ heads for Britain

Thanks to readers’ kindness, the Iraqi girl disabled by a bomb can be properly treated

A THREE-YEAR-OLD Iraqi girl, blinded and disfigured in a terrorist bombing that killed her mother, will travel to Britain within weeks for treatment funded by Sunday Times readers who have raised more than £100,000.

Their generosity means that Shams Kareem, who is called a "blind angel" by her impoverished father, will be provided with specialist care to improve her life.

Yassir Abou-Rayyah, a surgeon at the world-renowned Moorfields eye hospital in London, has been so touched by the girl's plight that he has offered to waive his fees.

"Her picture is so sad; the story of the whole country is so sad," he said.

"This little girl didn't do anything to deserve these injuries - offering to help is the least I can do."

Although Shams's left eye is missing and will require a glass replacement, doctors will assess whether any vision can be restored to her right eye.